Businesses worried about Cape Coral Pkwy repaving

CAPE CORAL: Road improvements are set to begin this spring along a stretch of Cape Coral Parkway, from Coronado Parkway to Del Prado Boulevard. Business owners are learning how the project will impact them and not everyone is happy with the improvements.

This project has been in the works for years. There was talk of starting it in November, but many didn't want the project during season so now it's finally set to start in April.

Still, some people are unhappy about the project.

Soon the ride along Cape Coral Parkway will be smoother. But first, drivers will just have to endure a 4 month construction project.

Experts we spoke to say it won't be a typical repaving. Come April, workers will take the road down to the dirt and completely re-do it.

"A simple patch job will only last a couple of years. This will give it a good 15-20 years before the road needs to be worked on again," said John Jacobsen, with the Cape Coral Community Redevelopment Agency.

Crews will start at Coronado and work their way down to Del Prado. Lanes will have to shut down and that's a concern for some.

Businesses on the north side of the road have parking and entrances from the rear.

But on the south side, it's a different story.

Business owner Debbie Arnold said she just moved her shop to its new location three months ago.

"It will be 10 times more difficult to get to us," she said. "And no one mentioned a street project in six months. So this is kind of a shock - and not a pleasant one."

Chris DePaolis said it's the same story for Sabatino's Pizza.

"We get a lot of people walking, driving by, that's 30 to 40 percent of my business and I'm going to lose it," he said.

Jacobsen says the CRA knows there's frustration.

"Yeah, absolutely it's going to disrupt their business. You can't do a road project without disrupting business," he explained.

But he says with Cape Coral Parkway being so bumpy, the project has to be done.

The CRA says it will help businesses with advertising and signage so people know they're still open.